2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 Test Drive Review

There was a time where MINI only made mini subcompact hatchbacks. All that has changed in hopes to cater to a wider market and it seems that MINI’s lineup is getting larger and larger as the years go by. While the largest vehicle in MINI’s lineup is the Countryman – the MINI Clubman comes in right under the “SUV” as another option for those that adore the brand but need more space.

Only slightly smaller than the MINI Countryman, the MINI Clubman is a sleek-looking long wagon with dual side-hinged rear doors that provide good access to the cargo area. While the MINI Clubman is available with a range of engine choices, we were pretty excited when we found out that we would be spending a week with the high-performance MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4. Let’s take a closer look.

2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 Exterior:

Based on the standard MINI Clubman, the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 is the most intense version of the model – which means it’s also the toughest looking in the lineup. As mentioned above, all MINI Clubmans look like a stretched hatchback, (otherwise known as a shooting brake) giving them a more wagon-like shape. You have four doors and two side-hinged rear doors that actually give the car’s exterior some sleek looks.

Size-wise, the 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 sits on a wheelbase that measures 105.1-inches with an overall length of 168.3-inches. Comparatively, the regular MINI Cooper 4 Door has an overall length of 158-inches. The width for the Clubman comes in at 70.9 inches while the height stands at 56.7 inches.

Overall, the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 also gets some model exclusive touches on the outside including large side cooling air inlets, model-specific side sills, dual tailpipes of the sports exhaust system, a wide rear apron, a hexagonal radiator grille with honeycomb pattern and cross member in Chili Red, and John Cooper Works logos all around. You can also get the exterior finished in an exclusive Rebel Green color, red contrasting finish for the roof and mirror caps, and sport stripes.

2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 Interior:

The John Cooper Works customization to the MINI Clubman continue on the inside of the wagon as well. While everything still resembles the standard Clubman, there are a bunch of additional sporty touches to set this apart as a special-edition high-performance model.

The special touches include beautiful John Cooper Works sports seats in Dinamica/fabric and Carbon Black with integrated headrests, John Cooper Works door sill, John Cooper Works leather steering, gear lever or selector lever and cockpit displays in model-specific design, and stainless steel pedals and driver footrest.

The MINI John Cooper Works Clubman All4 comes with a long list of standard features including dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, phone and audio streaming, USB connectivity, a panorama glass roof, and a 6.5-inch display that houses audio and vehicle setting info. If you add on the MINI Excitement Package like our test model, you’ll get to enjoy a bunch of additional touches like an LED ring for the central circular instrument, adjustable ambient lighting, a Harman Kardon sound system, and MINI logo projection on the driver-side sideview mirror. You can also upgrade to the Technology Package which adds an 8.8-inch touchscreen display with navigation, MINI Touch Controller, Apple CarPlay, heads-up display, wireless charging pad for a smartphone and much more. Heated seats are also available through the Cold Weather Package.

Interior space-wise, the 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman offers 41.4-inches of legroom for front passengers and 34.3 inches of legroom for rear passengers. Trunk volume comes in at 17.5 cubic feet with the seats in user position and 47.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 Performance:

Now, this is where the John Cooper Works part really gets interesting. The 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine that produces a total of 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Mated to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, 0 to 60 mph comes in just six seconds.

While those figures sound entertaining, driving the 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is a whole other experience. When in Sport Mode, the power delivery is instant, which allows you to make quick maneuvers. Handling is also very proficient as the MINI Clubman’s short wheelbase and balancing allows you to make tighter and harder turns when you’re really pushing it to the boundaries.

Besides a long list of standard features, the 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman can be had with a variety of driver assist features including a rear view camera, parking assistant, adaptive cruise control, collision and pedestrian warning, road sign detection, parking sensors and more.

2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 Overall:

The 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is one outstanding hot-hatchback/wagon. If you’re in the market for a Volkswagen Golf GTI or a Ford Focus ST, but need some more space for rear-seat passengers and cargo, the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is one vehicle that will satisfy your needs. Prices for this quick MINI start at $35,900**. With that in mind, visit your local AutoNation-affiliated dealer for a test drive today.